§ Mr. Terlezkiasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has as to (a) the maximum, (b) the minimum and (c) the average sentences given for (i) robbery with assault, (ii) rape, (iii) armed robbery and (iv) murder in each of the last five years.
§ Mr. David MellorThe readily available information is published annually in "Criminal statistics, England and Wales, Supplementary Tables" — for 1985, under classifications 1 (murder), 19 (rape) and 34 (robbery), in tables S1.1(A), S1.4 and S1.5 of volume 1 and tables S2.1(A), S2.4 and S2.5 of volume 2.
The figures for rape include offences of aiding and abetting and attempted rape, while those for robbery do not distinguish cases where actual force or firearms were used. Over the years 1981 to 1985 the sentences imposed ranged from a discharge to life imprisonment for both rape and robbery; life imprisonment is the mandatory sentence for those convicted of murder.